Self-employed truck driver Niclas Nordström found himself stranded by snow on Sweden’s E22 motorway for 20 hours on Wednesday and Thursday, which he described to The Local as the most challenging weather he has faced in his 30-year career.
Expectations Gone Wrong
Nordström, who has operated his road freight business since the 1990s, mistakenly believed that the traffic would have been cleared when he took the E22 on Wednesday. He realized his error, along with approximately 1,000 other drivers, when he became stuck near Linderöd around 1:45 PM.
Frustration at the Traffic Jam
“The reason for the jam happened long before I arrived, so I assumed the police would have redirected the traffic,” the 58-year-old told The Local. “I didn’t think it through properly. With a bit more quick thinking, this could have been avoided, and the queues wouldn’t have been so long.”
Emergency Response
As the blizzard pummeled Sweden, nearly 1,000 vehicles became stranded on the E22 between Hörby and Kristianstad. The Armed Forces were dispatched to assist in evacuating individuals from their cars, as well as delivering food and water to those still trapped.
Challenging Circumstances
Nordström’s truck is equipped only with a day cab—lacking a bed—forcing him to sleep upright behind the wheel. Despite his predicament, he was in a better situation than those in passenger vehicles. However, as he was en route to Lund in Skåne and then back home to Olofström in Blekinge county, he had no provisions, relying instead on the kindness of others.
Unexpected Help
“I met all sorts of people there. I befriended a couple from Holland who helped me the next day when I expressed how hungry I was. They invited me in for coffee and a sandwich,” he shared.
Endless Waiting
He spent the night checking the Swedish Transport Administration’s website for updates on the road’s reopening. “Each time, the time kept getting pushed back—from 8 PM to midnight, then 2 AM, and finally to 2 PM the next day.”
Finding a Way Out
Ultimately, around 10 AM, a local farmer assisted the Dutchman and him by creating a three-meter-wide path through the snow, allowing them to escape the motorway. They drove in the opposite lane, flashing their warning lights, until reaching a navigable road.
Unprecedented Conditions
Having primarily driven in southern counties like Skåne and Blekinge, Nordström remarked that he had never experienced snow conditions like those encountered on Wednesday. “I have never faced anything like this in my 30 years of driving. Skåne hasn’t seen such severe weather since 1979, when the entire region was covered in snow.”
